THE BEER NUT: All hail new 'Game of Thrones' beer

While summer is almost here in the real world, winter is still bearing down on the world of Westeros. Maybe they could use a nice beer.

Brewery Ommegang in Cooperstown, New York, is partnering with HBO to release a new beer inspired by the popular “Game of Thrones” television drama series, Bend the Knee Golden Ale

The new beer, available in 750 ml bottles, hits shelves around the Memorial Day weekend. The beer will be available in three collectible bottles. Each bottle will be matte black and feature the seals of three of the great houses from the TV show – Stark, Targarayen and Lannister.

The beer is brewed with pilsner malt and flaked oats, along with Saaz, Bravo and Styrian Golding hops.

The beer comes in at 9 percent ABV and is described this way: “Both the aroma and flavor mix maltiness and citrus from the hops, while Ommegang’s signature house yeast produces prominent fruitiness. Wildflower honey added during fermentation provides light sweetness to the beer, which finishes dry and with firm hop bitterness.”

A little more locally, Mayflower Brewing Company in Plymouth has announced the release of its newest year-round beer, the New World IPA.

“New World IPA is our latest take on the highly popular IPA craft beer style,” said Mayflower founder and President Drew Brosseau. “It strengthens and complements our existing lineup of year-round IPAs that includes our original English IPA, a session IPA called Daily Ration and a double IPA called EvoLupulin.”

New World IPA is unfiltered and will be available in kegs and six-packs. It is brewed with pale barley and wheat grains, making for a lighter color, and Mayflower uses four hop varieties to “produce bold fruit flavors and aromas with mild bitterness.”

The beer was picked as the new year-round beer by fans. Mayflower brewed several different beers between January and May and called them Hoppy Prototype, which was available in the brewery’s taproom.

“The beer has been a big hit in our tasting room and we’re excited to get it out into the market,” Brousseau said.

The beer will launch this week in Mayflower’s Plymouth Taproom, and it will be available in stores in the next few weeks.

One of the largest beer festivals in New England is coming up. Tickets are now available for the New England Beer Fest, which will be held June 23-25 at the base of Loon Mountain in Lincoln, New Hampshire.

The festival will benefit the Life is Good Kids Foundation, a charity that helps “spread the power of optimism to help kids heal.”

Each day of the festival will feature different events that are ticketed separately. They include the Café Lafayette Craft Beer Train, a two-hour train ride along the Pemigewasset River, which features a meal of locally sourced dishes paired with beer; New England Brewfest seminars and a brewers brunch.

For more information or to buy tickets, visit www.newbrewfest.com.

Norman Miller is a Daily News staff writer. Email him at nmiller@wickedlocal.com or call 508-626-3823. Check out the Beer Nut blog at http://www.metrowestdailynews.com/section/blogs01?taxid=646&start=2. Follow him on Twitter @RealBeerNut and on Facebook at facebook.com/NormanMillerBeerNut